Four Primers For Any Occasion

Sometimes primers can make all the difference to how my makeup looks, I’m often fairly picky with what I start my routine off with but I’ve found that lately my picks have been falling into four distinct categories, each serving their separate purposes, introducing the Four Primer Wardrobe…

The Brightening, Hydrating Primer – I mentioned my love for those primers that feel more like moisturisers last week and I’ve gotta say it’ll always be one of my favourite formulations. When I want to look healthy and glowy these are the ones that I go for. My favourite here is the Too Faced Hangover Primer. A primer that feels more like a moisturiser but still makes makeup apply just that little bit better. If you have dry skin, this one is a particularly important category to have covered because prepping your skin properly can make all the difference.

The Smoothing Primer – I’ve mentioned before that I’m not a fan of those primers that feel super silicone-y but I’m still a fan of the finish that they can give, who doesn’t want poreless, airbrushed looking skin every once in a while? The perfect compromise for me has been found in the Mecca Cosmetica Soft Focus Smoothing Primer. I don’t think I would’ve looked twice at this product in store but this sample size was in a Beauty Loop box and I’ve been SO impressed. It’s silky but not overly silicone-y like others I’ve tried. It smoothes and softens and really does give that soft focus effect to your skin. I’ll definitely be picking up a full size soon. If you’re not opposed to the silicone feeling primers, the Benefit Porefessional is worth checking out too.

The Luminising Primer – For dewy skin lovers or those of you with drier skin types, the luminising primer is a must have. They’re an awesome first step in your routine if you want your skin to look glowy and radiant. Personally, I don’t reach for these too frequently as my skin is a little more combination so it creates it’s own shine throughout the day but I do like pairing them with a matte foundation so my skin still looks bright and not flat. The L’Oreal Lumi Magique Pure Light Primer is a beautiful pearlescent liquid that blends out beautifully and makes your skin look super dewy and is also a good one to use as a liquid illuminator on the high points of the face.

The Correcting Primer – If your skin has a bit of redness or pigmentation that you want to get rid of then correcting primers are an awesome first step. They colour correct on the skin to make sure everything is looking a little more normal before you go ahead with your base and I find them particularly awesome if my skin is flaring up or feeling particularly sensitive. The Stila One Step Correct is one of my favourite primers ever, it’s been helping my skin look healthy for a while now and a repurchase is on the cards soon as this one is nearly out. It has green, lavender and peach tones in it to reduce redness and sallow undertones and to brighten any other pigmentation and also feels super moisturising and calming on the skin.

There are countless numbers of primers on the market targeting different skin concerns and prolonging the wear of your make-up so it’s important to know what you’re looking to achieve from this first step in your routine. It can be easy to get overwhelmed. Starting with a hydrating, a smoothing, a luminising and a correcting primer will have you covered for any occasion.What are your favourite primers? Which category is your favourite?

I'm all about easy, achievable makeup. And I love mixing up my collection with everything from budget beauty to luxury picks.

I'm here to share my tips, tricks and product recommendations with you. TBC is all about new releases, swatches, in-depth reviews and useful roundups. Get ready for my thoughts on the best (and worst) of beauty.